Jewellery kaleidoscope

Castlecliff vintage jewellery

Castlecliff vintage jewellery – brooch ‘Bird in the nest’

Castlecliff vintage jewellery

In 1918, American jewelry designers Clifford Furst and Joseph Bobley opened their own jewellery company “Castlecliff”. Initially, they both worked for other companies, but in 1941, launched Castlecliff jewelry brand, and in 1945 released the first collection of beautiful costume jewellery. The main designer was William Markle, whose imagination allowed him to create in all styles, from the Gothic, Renaissance and Art – Deco, before the three-dimensional and moving, trembling butterflies, flowers and animals. Castlecliff vintage jewellery has always been famous for exquisite and colorful decorations, rich decorative trim. The company worked with a lot of silver and almost always applied the gilding and silvering jewelry. They began put their Castlecliff marking on their products in 1941. The company ceased to exist in in 1977. Castlecliff Jewellery is highly valued by collectors.

Vintage brooch mushrooms. Castlecliff. 1960s

Excellent knowledge of art, history, traditions and jewelry techniques allowed Castlecliff company designers create unique premium decorations. Of great importance in this case were many years of experience accumulated by the company during the years of its existence. The company achieved its heyday in 1970-1972 – the period of cooperation with the brilliant Larry Vrba, who created a few incomparable collections for Castlecliff.

Castlecliff vintage brooch

Sophisticated exquisite combination of stones and crystals of different colors creates the effect of presence of diamonds of pure water – a characteristic feature of all Castlecliff decorations. Fine gold tone jewelry alloys, used by Castlecliff jewelers are always beautiful and noble. Sophisticated forms of aristocratic, beautiful lines, the use of open-work techniques, and finally, selection of delicate crystals cause delight and admiration of fans and collectors of antique and vintage jewelry.

Castlecliff Vintage brooch Chicken with a cart

The markings were – «Castlemark», in 1957 – «Cassandra», after 1955 without mark, or with the copyright symbol Castlecliff”, “Anne Klein for Castlecliff” in 1977.

In 1977, unable to withstand the competition and the new economic conditions, the company has ceased to exist. But many collectors of antique and vintage costume jewelry do not forget the stunning Castlecliff decorations. In addition, the quality of Castlecliff creations was so high that even the decorations made more than 50 years ago, preserved in a spectacular collector’s condition, which is highly valued in the market of antique and vintage jewelry.